Episode 9
Shadow of the Moon, the Sea of Shadow, Chapter Nine
En
Youko!
Rakushun...
I'm glad you made it safely.
How did you...
All ships from Kou to En stop at Ugou.
I waited for you back at Agan, but you didn't show up.
I assumed that you had already left for Ugou, but I couldn't find you here either.
So since then I've been checking every single ship from Kou.
You've been waiting for me?
It was my own fault too.
I should've given you some money when we started the trip.
It must've been really hard to get here.
But I abandoned you back there.
I'm glad that you did.
You could've gotten arrested by the guards.
I should've handed you money and told you to run, but I passed out...
Rakushun...
You called me by my name...
Thank you.
You're amazing, Rakushun...
I don't deserve a hug, do I?
That's not it.
Sure it is.
Not only did I leave you back there...
...I even thought of going back to finish you off.
To tell you the truth, when I realized that you had left me...
...I was a little disappointed.
I knew you didn't trust me at first...
...but I was hoping that someday you'd trust me.
I'm sorry...
You have nothing to apologize for.
I wanted to believe that you'd trust me.
But it's up to you whether you trust me or not.
Rakushun...
By the way Youko, you better behave yourself in public.
You've been working here?
That's right.
You do everything on your own.
It makes me feel so useless...
I think you did just fine.
I could tell, you've had quite an eventful journey, haven't you?
I could spot you from a distance right away.
There's something special about you now.
Me?
Yeah.
Let's go to the government office, they take care of Kaikyaku there.
Are those refugees?
Things are so different from Kou...
Oops sorry, you all right?
W-What's that?
I serve the King of Kou...
She's speaking a foreign language, she must be Kaikyaku.
Then we should take her to the government office.
Yeah, let's go.
What are you doing?
No, let go of me!
What's this place?
Um, I don't know what's going on...
Some men brought me here, but...
Are you a Kaikyaku?
Welcome to En.
Please write down your address, phone number, and...
...zip code of your home in Japan.
You can speak Japanese...
Are you Kaikyaku too?
No, I'm not Kaikyaku.
I'm just a clerk here.
So you get a permit to live here for three years, and if you find a job...
...you can become a citizen and get financial support.
The system is so different in En.
King Kou believes that Kaikyaku are evil and bring disaster...
...but I think there's another explanation.
Hey, what are "zip code" and "phone number"?
They come with an address.
They were probably checking to see if I was telling the truth.
But they know so much about Japan, maybe there's a way to go there.
There must be, it was a good thing that you came here.
I'm sure you can go home, Youko.
Yeah!
Are we heading out of town?
We don't have time, let's hurry.
But where are we going?
I haven't been just wasting my time since I got here, just follow me.
Why did you write down seven digits here?
This isn't correct, I can't accept this application.
Why did you stop speaking Japanese?
Are you pretending to be a Kaikyaku, so you can get financial support?
Could you please speak Japanese?
The Japanese zip code is seven digits now, she's telling you the truth.
You are...
Sorry about that, our references haven't been updated in years.
Why are you apologizing?
What?
Um, no reason...
Didn't you see the notice of change?
The last Kaikyaku wrote down seven digits, too.
The last Kaikyaku?
There was another Kaikyaku here?
Yes.
Did you come here with a friend?
Why are you following me?
You can get living expenses with that thing, so go find a place to stay.
But you're the only person I know...
And you speak Japanese, but are you a Kaikyaku too?
I'm not the only one who can speak the Kaikyaku language in this town.
Why don't you learn our language?
I'll tell you what...
In the town of Houryou, there's a Kaikyaku who's been living here a while.
Well, I'm going there now anyway, so...
Great, we're walking.
You have money now, why don't you stay somewhere nicer?
All I need is a roof over me.
But still, I can't let you stay in a place like this...
What's the matter, Rakushun?
It's nothing.
By the way, I've noticed that there're many Hanjyuu in En.
Whether it's En or Kou, a Riboku bears the same number of Hanjyuu.
But Hanjyuu aren't allowed to go outside in Kou.
Rakushun, you don't like wearing clothes?
No, they're uncomfortable.
Thank you, just put them there.
Rakushun...
Shall we bathe together?
I thought I told you to behave yourself.
Youko, about the man who brought you here...
You mean Keiki?
Can you remember anything about him?
He had a lot of Youma with him...
...and they were calling him Taiho.
Taiho?
Taiho is what people call a Saiho.
Saiho?
The Saiho assists the ruler of a kingdom...
...but people address a Saiho as "Taiho" to show respect.
So, he is royalty...
But why would such a person come after me?
Hey Youko...
I'm not going to dye my hair anymore, does it look strange?
Not at all.
The same king has been ruling En for five hundred years?
It's not a big deal.
But for five hundred years...
Once you become a ruler, the Heavens give you eternal life.
Kings can register officials as Sen-nin and make them immortal too.
After the king dies, his kingdom starts to decline.
So the longer the king lives, the wealthier the kingdom gets.
And people don't have to starve.
Youko, this is the town of Houryou.
So, what's the rush to get to this town?
I'll tell you later...
Let's find a place to stay.
That's a Shoujyo, an elementary school in En, right?
That's right.
Let's stay there, that'll save us time looking.
Hey Youko!
You say you're Kaikyaku?
But you don't look like one.
I never saw a person with red hair like that in Japan.
So are you a...
Yes, I am a Kaikyaku, I go by the name Heki-Rakujin.
So your hair color, face, body, and even voice have changed...
...since you came here?
Yes.
You're probably a Taika then.
Taika?
I'd like to show you something.
Shrine of Riboku
Is it a shrine of something?
Go on inside.
I've seen the same tree in the woods in Kou.
The one you saw is a Yaboku, that one is a Riboku.
Plants and animals are born from a Yaboku...
...and people are born from a Riboku.
So it's true that babies grow on trees.
Sometimes a Ranka gets caught in a Shoku and thrust into the other world
And the Ranka will land in a mother's womb in the other world...
...and a baby will be born just like a normal baby.
You're saying that's me?
But people used to tell me that I looked like my grandmother.
Taika are in a sort of shell while they're in the other world.
But once they come back to this world...
...they return to the original shape given by Tentei.
So does that mean I don't belong in the other world?
Maybe that's why I felt out of place there...
Mr. Heki, are you a Taika too?
No, I'm just a Kaikyaku.
But you can speak this world's language...
Isn't that because you're a Taika?
Even if you're a Taika, it doesn't mean you can speak this world's language.
I knew basic Chinese, but I wasn't able to communicate at all.
I've been studying Kaikyaku for a long time, but...
...they all have a hard time learning the language.
I came here in 1969.
That's over 30 years ago...
I've been studying the language since then, and I'm able to speak it just a little.
Actually I didn't even notice the language was different.
My friends told me that I was speaking a different language...
...that's how I found out.
And also, I had a really deep wound on my right hand...
...but it's already healed without a scar.
That's not all, Youma have been after me since I arrived here.
Youma are after you? That's not possible.
I was told Youma were trying to kill me because I was an evil Kaikyaku.
They even came to the other world to attack me.
That's because you are not a human.
I've heard that gods and evil creatures have no language barrier.
And the kings, queens and high officials can communicate in the other world.
Is there such thing as a Taika who is a Youma?
I suppose Youma are born from Ranka too, but...
That must be it!
Youma don't target someone specific, but what if I were a Youma?
I must've done something to make them angry.
Now I know, I'm not human after all...
...I'm just a monster.
You should see King En.
You're not just an ordinary Kaikyaku, I'm sure he can help you.
No!
I must be a some kind of despicable monster...
I can't see the King, he will kill me for sure!
But I don't believe you are a Youma.
I've heard some Youma could turn into humans!
Youko!
You met a man named Keiki, right?
He could cross over between the two worlds, and brought you here...
...and he was called Taiho.
He's neither a human nor a Youma, there's only one thing he could be...
He's the Kirin of Kei.
Kirin?
Kei is the kingdom between Kou and En.
Since the ruler perished last year, a new ruler hasn't been crowned yet.
The kingdom is in distress, and many people are escaping to En and Kou.
A Kirin is granted to the ruler of a kingdom by the Heavens.
There's only one Kirin in each kingdom.
The Kirin select the rulers according to the Heavens.
He probably couldn't find the ruler in Kei, so he went to Wa...
You mean Japan.
...for a ruler who had been born a Taika.
But...
Youko, did he say anything to you?
I swear never to desert my post before your throne.
He kneeled in front of me and bowed down...
Youko...
W-What are you doing?
A Kirin is such a holy creature...
...and it only bows on its knees to its own king or queen.
And you said he bowed to you, then...
Your Majesty, you are the new queen of Kei.
But I'm just an ordinary high school student.
Kings and queens are ordinary people until they are chosen by the Kirin.
Actually, I had already sent a message to the En Taiho.
And in his reply, he instructed us to wait at the Tourin-en.
I'm sure once she sees King En, the questions will be answered.
Your Majesty!
Your Majesty.
What is the matter, Your Majesty?
What are they doing?
They are placing a wish on a ribbon to have a child, and tying it to a branch.
If Tentei grants their wish, the tree bears a fruit where they tie a ribbon.
And a child is born from the fruit...
Each couple has to weave their own ribbon.
They choose the pattern thinking about the child they wish to have.
If I'm a Taika, there were parents who tied a ribbon for me...
I cannot imagine their disappointment, losing their Ranka...
Do you think I can find them?
You can look up the records of Shoku and missing Ranka in the past...
...and have your men look for them.
I'm not a queen.
We should get going, the servant of the En Taiho must be waiting for us.
I see, you can stay here for a while.
I'll teach you the language.
But how do you know such a personage?
A Kaikyaku named Rokuta wrote that letter for me...
Well, this person is...
By the way, you came to this world with Youko Nakajima, am I right?
Yes.
Then you should go talk to her, she can help you.
What do you mean?
Your Majesty!
I found the evil Kaikyaku!
She's at a place called Tourin-en.
She is a queen?
No, no way...
That can't be true...
I was invited into this world...
I...
As long as you have that sword, he will know it is you, Your Majesty.
Those are the instructions the En Taiho gave us.
Can you come with me?
I can't go into such a fancy place alone.
Youma?
Your Majesty!
Two of them?
Youko, Kingen!
Stay focused, it's not over yet!
Didn't you see the man I sent?
En Taiho, sir?
No, I just came to see what's taking him so long.
Then who are you?
My name is Naotaka Komatsu, a Taika.
Technically, I'm King En.
I'm the King of the Kingdom of En.
Shadow of the moon reflects over the Sea of Emptiness.
Let's sleep in the soft silver luster for now.
In my memory, I kept looking for...
...warmth in the lonely rain.
Even if my body dies, I will keep running...
...until I reach the rainbow at the end of the world.
Youko reaches out her arms, she hugs soft animal skin.
It feels as soft as she imagined.
The Twelve Kingdoms, Episode 10
Episode 10
Shadow of the Moon, the Sea of Shadow, Chapter Ten